Speak the Truth...

In a world full of lies, we need to be defenders of truth:

Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. -Ephesians 4:25, NAB

Lying is one of my pet peeves. I do not like to lie, and I do not like being lied to. But as I look at the world around us, lying seems to be socially acceptable these days, and it may be the cause for many of the world's problems.

When I watch some of my favorite TV shows, lies stand out to me. Often times, the whole plot of the story is based on a lie. One of the characters makes an honest mistake, but tries to cover it with a lie. Usually, the lie itself is worse than the mistake, and the drama never would have happened if the truth had been told.

This, of course, closely mirrors real life. Maybe not in such a dramatic way, but how often do our lies catch up with us? It is better to face the consequences of the truth than to later get caught covering it up. Lies are much more damaging than the truth can ever be.

The problem with lies is the snowball effect. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, little lies become small lies, small become big, and big become huge. Lies have started wars and divided families. They have the power to destroy everything that is good and beautiful.

Can we stop lying? Can we speak the truth at all times? For the most part, yes. It's hard to give up lying - it's an addiction - but it can be done. For years, I have worked hard to speak the truth (even when the truth hurts), and if I slip up with even the smallest lie, I feel horribly guilty afterwards. Overall though, my life is much better being 99.8% lie-free.

The truth can sometimes have consequences, but they will only be magnified by lies. Speak the truth at all times, and let your words build others up - instead of tearing them down.